Today we continue our series, “As Jesus Is”, under the banner of the overall series for the year, “Supernatural Manifestation.” We have been looking at 1 John 4:16,17 for over a month now. Last week we started looking at John 17 to go along with it. Let’s go back to both passages again this morning.
The Apostle John said:
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(1 John 4:16, 17 KJV)
The True Lord’s Prayer (John 17)
(verses 1-5)
After Jesus said these things, he looked toward heaven and prayed, “Father, the time has come. Give glory to your Son so that the Son can give glory to you. You gave the Son power over all people so that he could give eternal life to all those you have given to him. And this is eternal life: that people can know you, the only true God, and that they can know Jesus Christ, the one you sent. I finished the work you gave me to do. I brought you glory on earth. And now, Father, give me glory with you. Give me the glory I had with you before the world was made.
(verses 15-23)
“I am not asking you to take them out of the world. But I am asking that you keep them safe from the Evil One. They don’t belong to the world, just as I don’t belong to the world. Make them ready for your service through your truth. Your teaching is truth. I have sent them into the world, just as you sent me into the world. I am making myself completely ready to serve you. I do this for them, so that they also might be fully qualified for your service.
“I pray not only for these followers but also for those who will believe in me because of their teaching. Father, I pray that all who believe in me can be one. You are in me and I am in you. I pray that they can also be one in us. Then the world will believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me. I gave them this glory so that they can be one, just as you and I are one. I will be in them, and you will be in me. So they will be completely one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you loved them just as you loved me.”
Yesterday I focused in on the statement, “I have sent them into the world, just as you sent me into the world.” I will do the same today. I closed yesterday’s message with this point:
“Jesus came to establish a Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is supposed to change the world. The world is made up of individuals and systems. God’s Kingdom is supposed to affect (with effects and influence), both the people and the systems of this world!” I will ‘pull the string’ on that thought today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- Jesus did not preach a message about a church. He preached a message about God’s Kingdom. Everywhere Jesus went, He declared, “The Kingdom of God is at hand!” He was announcing, “It is time for God’s Kingdom to manifest… and to manifest in this world!” The Father sent Jesus into this world to preach and demonstrate The Kingdom. He now sends US into the world to do the same thing. However, in order for us to do so, we must see ourselves AS JESUS IS.
- If you read the beginning of the book (Genesis), you will see that God placed Adam in this world to rule it, govern it, and to establish a Godly kingdom in it. Adam’s was authorized by God to operate with Kingdom dominion, power and authority. However, Adam lost it all. Jesus came to get back all Adam lost. Jesus came to restore us to the position of Kingdom dominion, power and authority. That’s why Jesus always preached “Kingdom” and not “Church”. The church is where we go to learn about the Kingdom. Further, if you read the end of the book (Revelation), you will see that God’s ultimate goal is for the kingdoms of this world to become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ! That’s why the Father sent Jesus into the world, and that’s why He sends us into the world now!
- The message of the Kingdom that Jesus preached is a message of the dominion and authority of heaven, and how it can be manifested HERE, in the earth. This is what Jesus asked us to pray for. This is why He told us to pray for God’s Kingdom to come, and for God’s will to be done, ON EARTH. How? The answer is simple: AS IT IS in heaven. Adam was planted here to bring heaven to the earth. He failed. Jesus came as the last Adam (1 Cor 15:45), to succeed where Adam failed. Jesus brought the Kingdom. He now sends us into the world to demonstrate it. But we will never do so, if we: (1) fail to see ourselves AS HE IS, and (2) fail to live with a Kingdom focus. Far too many believers live focused on simply going to heaven some day. God wants you to live focused on bringing heaven to the earth every day!
- God’s intent for His Kingdom is for it to advance. The Kingdom of God advances, and it advances through us. We are supposed to affect (with effects and influence), both the people of this world and the systems of this world! This is what God sends us into the world to do. And this is why it is critically important that we see ourselves AS JESUS IS… not in heaven, but in this world!
I will stop here for today.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. You sent Jesus into this world to succeed where Adam failed. Jesus announced that Your Kingdom was at hand. You sent Him into this world to restore Your Kingdom. You now send me into this world to demonstrate it. I am a Kingdom citizen living in this world. Your Kingdom advances; and it advances through me! I impact both the people of this world, and the systems of this world. Because I see myself as ONE with You! As Jesus is, so am I, in this world! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
